Incompetent managers who have never worked in the rail yards or on the road-have no idea what "true" switching and railroading is all about. Management is unrealistic in their expectations. I am a slave to my phone (on call 365/24/7), and am not allowed to miss a call for work-ever. If I do, I am disciplined. Extremely difficult to get time off. You won't have much home life. The railroad is a seniority based system, which you know going in, but...in this down economy, I have had to travel 1000 miles away from home in order to work. It's hard being away from my family, home and my "life." Ever heard of "job insurance?" Me neither, until I went to work for the railroad. Basically, you can and do get "fired" (temporarily suspended) for committing rules violations; job insurance is what will pay your wages while you are suspended. It is a voluntary option, but most trainmen/engineers buy it "just in case." Job insurance will cost you close to $1000 per year, and factor in another $1000 per year for union dues (required). Senior management receives incredible bonuses and stock options, while over 1500 employees this year alone have been furloughed (temporarily lost their jobs). Is any CEO really worth 12 million a year?
To be fair, some of this is just the way the railroad industry is and has no bearing on BNSF.
